If host dislikes early guests, she should get ready sooner

comparatively removed from the other four in the middle of the remaining quarter of the circle. I was seated between my sister and brother-in-law with their friends directly opposite me.

As the meal progressed, I felt increasingly isolated as I frequently found both my sister and brotherin-law simultaneously engaged in one-on-one conversations with the wife and husband opposite me. I would sit in silence, not sure where to look.

My relative distance from them and their proximity to each other compounded the effect by impacting my ability to hear what was being said in a noisy restaurant.

Throughout the meal, all I really wanted to do was get up and leave. The one thing that prevented me from doing so was fear of my actions being considered histrionics. Consequently, I finished the meal in relative silence until my sister sought to engage me in conversation following dessert.

How would you have handled the situation? As it happened, I said nothing, and later sent an email explaining how I was hurt by what had happened.

Gentle Reader: Call in the authorities.

Miss Manners is not suggesting histrionics in the form of police assistance, but to call in those with even greater power: the ones in charge of restaurant seating. When you sized up the situation, you could have asked if there were smaller tables so that you all could better hear one another. Even if none were available, this would alert your lunch companions to the awkward placement of your chair and encouraged them to be aware of it, and converse accordingly.

Dear Miss Manners: A friend canceled her wedding just a few weeks before it was to take place. I had already sent a gift from the registry, which was never returned or acknowledged.

Now, several months later, the couple has reconciled and rescheduled the wedding. I do not wish to buy another gift, but plan to write a card. Should I acknowledge the gift in any way? Please advise.

Gentle Reader: Write in the card: “I am so thrilled to hear that you and Ragmar have reconciled. I was hoping that the silver nut dish would get used by both of you. Now both of our dreams are being realized. I look forward to the wedding.”